I've only seen the English version (a DVDR of the fullscreen Japanese disc) but the original Italian version should be titled MALAZIE DE VENERE (the title of the soundtrack album) - there's a really expensive Italian tape under that title on eBay.

I thought someone on another board mentioned Arthaus/Kinowelt preparing a version.

Adapted from the novel by Leopold Von Sacher-Masoch, VENUS IN FURS is the story of a couple and the lengths in which they're prepared to sustain an increasingly dangerous, sadomasochistic relationship...

Severin (Regis Vallee) is a man afflicted with a deeply-rooted fetish; he's a peeping tom and has become increasingly obsessed with Wanda (Laura Antonelli): a sexually promiscuous woman whose casual sexual encounters he spies through a wall. Wanda epitomises Regis' ultimate fantasy; a dominating, sexually liberated woman in fur, and would appear to share more than a passing resemblance to a woman who he was caught spying on as a child: a woman who—within a space of one night--awoke oedipal stirrings and savagely humiliated him.

Severin and Wanda strike up what would at first appear to be an unlikely relationship and it's not long before the couple are acting-out Severin's deepest and darkest desires. Wanda agrees to marry the wealthy Severin and that she will continue to seek out sex with other men under the condition that her husband-to-be is allowed to watch. Although it pains Severin to see Wanda with other men, he has become addicted to the humiliation and before long this very unconventional union begins to spiral out of control...

VENUS IN FURS is a wicked slice of classic Euro sleaze, featuring oodles of the lovely Laura's naked flesh, tremendous use of fabulous Spanish locations and a typically infectious Gianfranco Reverberi score. While at times some of the couple's antics inspire guffaws, the characterisations are also though-provoking, with Antonelli and Vallee comfortably occupying their roles. Whether Roman Polanski has seen Dallamano's film or read the Sacher-Masoch novel, it's obvious that he (or novelist Pascal Bruckner, for that matter) is familiar with this material, as there's more than an echo of VENUS IN FURS in his 1992 film, BITTER MOON.

Shameless' disc clocks in at 82:06, suffering some cuts by the BBFC: the scene in question is that of a sexual assault culminating in the depiction of the victim enjoying her experience. Kudos to Shameless, as they've edited the film in a way that does not jar as the scene simply fades to black--and speaking as someone that's not seen the film before--the cuts don't seem to detract from the enjoyment of the film at all. Shameless' disc is presented in anamorphic 2.35:1 and looks very good when you consider the age and obscurity of the film itself. Colours are reproduced well for the most part and there's little in the way of print damage. The sound is presented in Dolby Digital 2.0 and is well balanced and serves the English language dialogue and score well.

Having seen some of director Dallamano's other films (namely SOLANGE and WHAT HAVE THEY DONE TO YOUR DAUGHTERS?), I wasn't quite sure to expect from VENUS IN FURS and although it didn't strike the same chord as DAUGHTERS—which is one of my all time favourite gialli—it certainly left a lasting impression.

Logged

"Allow me to explain. Your mother is a whore, your father is a damn thief, and your grandfather is a notorious fag... and as for your sister..." - Yodlaf Peterson